Senior Project Engineer (Wastewater Utility) at Essential Utilities

Aqua, an Essential Utilities company, employs people in a variety of roles within our eight-state footprint, ranging from field workers and customer service representatives who are on the front lines working with customers, to scientists and engineers who help ensure we’re delivering reliable water and wastewater services to our communities.  If you’re looking for a rewarding career helping improve our environment and protect our natural resources, we encourage you to join our team!

About Essential Utilities

Essential Utilities, Inc. delivers safe, clean, reliable services that improve quality of life for individuals, families, and entire communities.

Operating as the Aqua (water and wastewater services) and the Peoples and Delta (natural gas) brands, Essential serves approximately 5.5 million people across 10 states. We are committed to sustainable growth, operational excellence, a superior customer experience, and premier employer status - including a competitive and comprehensive benefits package as well as a commitment to career growth opportunities.

We are advocates for the communities we serve and are dedicated stewards of natural lands, protecting more than 7,600 acres of forests and other habitats throughout our footprint.

Our company is one of the most significant publicly traded water, wastewater service and natural gas providers in the U.S. 

JOB SUMMARY

The Senior Project Engineer manages a statewide team of Engineers, Designers, Estimators, Drafters, Project Coordinators, consisting of both in-house and outside consulting partners, responsible for planning, coordination, design, and project management of linear and vertical water and wastewater infrastructure capital projects. Primary responsibilities include management of $100M+ in capital projects annually, including design and permitting for 100+ mile/year water main replacement program; achievement of key financial metrics; planning, tracking, and reporting of capital budget.

The Senior Project Engineer is required to manage and build relationships with a variety of internal Operations and Construction Managers, external permitting agencies, local officials, and other Utility and Municipal staff to facilitate these Programs.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES

• Manage Team of technical staff to plan and execute Capital Program consisting of both statewide linear and vertical water & wastewater projects.  Projects consist of the rehabilitation of existing water and wastewater facilities and development of new facilities, including but not limited to water main replacements, sewer rehabilitation, valve vaults, booster stations, sanitary lift stations, well stations, surface water treatment plants, wastewater treatment plants, water storage tanks, chemical feed systems, treatment processes, and instrumentation & controls. Typical individual project costs range anywhere up to $5M.
• Manage the pipe capital planning & execution cadence to meet statewide TX quarterly DSIC and annual Repair Tax collar targets within an expected degree of precision and cushion.
• Manage resource needs and performance within the Department and secure outsourced help as needed in preparing and/or supporting business case for additional staff or repurposing department roles as appropriate.
• Work with Operations and Construction Team to track and manage water main replacement program and ensure Program metric financial targets are met on a quarterly and annual basis. Manage estimating Team and process to ensure cost projections are as accurate as possible to facilitate this planning and management.
• Work with Operations and Construction Team to coordinate projects and manage relationships with relevant outside parties and ensure project needs are met (Land rights, negotiated Easements, Permitting, Municipal).
• Oversee preparation of contract bid documents, plans, and specifications for capital projects and conduct bid process. Coordinate across Planning & Engineering, Operations, and Construction Departments to update Contract language from technical and business standpoint.
• Enforce contract requirements, manage, and supervise construction administration staff on assigned projects.
• Prepare and/or commission studies and reports to guide Company management in planning for future system needs and capital improvements.
• Assist in the development / implementation of annual capital improvement plans that identify and prioritize capital projects; this involves assisting in the development of the annual capital budget for the State. Evaluate and select design approaches and estimate project costs.
• Clearly articulate technical problems, design issues, and potential solution sets upward, both in written and verbal form, to members of the Aqua business, engineering, and operating teams as well as external organizations like regulators and local authorities.
• Prepare and/or direct the preparation of permit applications for construction of assigned capital projects; applications cover a wide range of land development, zoning, construction, and environmental approvals (at the local & state levels, and at times, at the federal level), so this involves meeting with local officials and regulatory agency personnel to obtain project permits & authorizations.
• Utilize company financial information system and capital budget systems for project authorization, creation, and cost and progress tracking. Maintain required project planning, design, and progress and budget tracking files.
• Oversee maintenance of water and wastewater system maps, records, and electronic data (i.e.: GIS, hydraulic models, standard details and specifications, etc.).
• Assist in safety inspection, evaluations, and studies/measurements of company dams.
• Participate in activities of various professional organizations and attend seminars and training courses when necessary to maintain and enhance technical edge or competency.
• Provide engineering due diligence services for potential acquisitions; this involves identifying capital improvement needs for candidate systems as well as estimating the costs and timing of needed rehabilitation / improvements; provide cost/benefit analysis to determine value of acquisition to assist in decision-making.
• Support Customer Service, Legal, Finance, and other Departments of directed issues.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Civil, Environmental, or Sanitary Engineering
• Minimum 5 years experience in engineering in the water / wastewater utility industry.
• Minimum 2 years experience as licensed PE with project design responsibilities.
• Registered P.E. in Texas or ability to successfully obtain within 6-months of hire.
• Must have the ability to represent the Company in an accurate, positive and professional manner to the general Public, Regulators, Developers and Municipal Officials.
• Texas driver’s license and ability to operate Company vehicle is required.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Ability to manage Company technical and non-technical staff with in-office, hybrid, and remote work capacity.  Ability to manage the remote relationships of GPA engineers.  Ability to manage network of outside consultants in technical and capital project management support roles.
• Proficient in GIS, ACAD, Hydraulic Modeling, Excel, Word, Powerpoint, Outlook, ProCore, BlueBeam, PDF Software, Project Management Software.
• Excellent written and verbal technical communications skills; communicate effectively (clearly, concisely, and professionally) with internal and external customers.
• Ability to work on multiple projects simultaneously and adapt to changing priorities in a fast-paced, pressured team environment.
• Must have the ability to deal effectively with employees, local officials, regulatory agencies, customers, and the public.

WORKING CONDITIONS/PHYSICAL DEMANDS

• Perform sedentary work - exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally, and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects, including the human body. Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time.
• Working conditions will include travel to project and construction sites of Aqua Texas and/or other constituents.
• Local Travel to network facilities up to 50% of work week.   

Aqua, an Essential Utilities company is an Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action employer. Equal employment opportunity is provided to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to the following legally protected characteristics: race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, pregnancy (including childbirth and related medical conditions, including medical conditions related to lactation), physical or mental disability, covered-veteran status, genetic information (including testing and characteristics), sexual orientation, gender identity or expression or any other characteristic protected by applicable local, state or federal law.
Aqua is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities.  If you have a condition that may prevent you from applying for a job online or need to request an accommodation during the interview process, please call (1-877-271-9012).  
To maintain the integrity of the recruitment process and to avoid real or perceived conflicts of interest due to employment and/or assignment of family members and personal referrals, specific guidelines apply to the hiring and assignment of these individuals including, but not limited to:

• Family members cannot result in a supervisor/subordinate reporting relationship
• Family members cannot work in the same department.